Ming Recovery (579-580)

• mid 14th century, Mongol's Yuan dynasty experienced financial mismanagement
• led to serious economic difficulties and political conflicts
• collapsed in 1368 with the raging bubonic plague
• Mongols departed China and returned to the steppes
• left China in a state of demographic and political turmoil
• increasing birthrate replenished population and helped with political recovery (SN)

• new emperor came from a poor family; spent youth as a beggar
• entered a Buddhist monastery to assure himself of food, clothing, shelter, as an orphan
• came to notice of military commanders because of size and strength
• made his way through the ranks to lead the forces that toppled the Yuan dynasty
• 1368 - became Emperor Hongwu and established the Ming dynasty; lasted until 1644

• Hongwu established a government on the model of traditional Chinese dynasties
• had little interest in scholarly matters
• reestablished the Confucian educational and civil service systems to ensure a supply of talented officials
• moved to centralize authority more tightly than ever before in Chinese history
• 1380 - executed chief minister and bureaucratic allies; suspected he was involved in a treasonous plot
• abolished the minister's position
• from then on, Ming emperors ruled directly, without the aid of chief ministers

HT

• The Ming emperors insisted on absolute obedience to central government
• Relied a lot on the mandarins, a special class of officials that monitored local officials
• Relied also on eunuchs which could not build families so they didn't challenge the ruling families
• Ming emperors employed more eunuchs then previous emperors
  • eunuchs money was based off the emperor; work more diligently (sn)
• Mandarins and eunuchs enhanced central government
• Ming dynasty fell to the Manchu invaders (Qing dynasty) in 1644
• Qing dynasty kept an administration like the Ming emperors
• Qing dynasty collapsed in 1911

• Ming emperors tried to recover economically after the diseases and nomadic rule
• They had laborers rebuild irrigation systems causing agriculture to increase
• Promoted the making of porcelain, lacquer ware, fine silk, and cotton textiles
• Did not encourage trade with other lands
• Though domestic trade surged with Japan and southeast Asia increasing productivity and prosperity

• Ming dynasty also sponsored cultural revival in China
• Emperor Hongwu discouraged use of Mongol names and dresses
• He promoted Chinese cultures, particularly Confucianism
• Hongwu's successor, Yongle, created a encyclopedia of Chinese history, philosophy, and literature
• They were going to print the encyclopedia but didn't because of cost
• Encyclopedia showed Ming ruler's interest in Chinese traditions